The California State Supreme Court today announced their decision about gay marriage.

Have you read a review of their logic in the court case? Most people will tell you their opinion about gay marriage, and not this court case. Try to look at the court case and share your thoughts on the facts that went into this landmark decision that will be at the center of many campaigns.

California Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban - Get more documents

The justices made sure to mention that California's courts were a leader in eliminating laws that banned interracial many years ago. Lately I have been reading Andrew Sullivan's blog. Today he posted an entry that discussed how unpopular interracial marriage was for years after that ruling.

It looks like the governor will support the decision and will not help out to pass a constitutional amendment to block any gay marriages.

Fun fact: A majority of the justices were appointed by Republicans.

This November's ballot looks like it will have gay marriage and Arnold's budget ideas on it. What will local Republican candidates will have to say about these propositions? Are they going to be Schwarzenegger Republicans or Bush Republicans? Will Democrats embrace the decision and support it? The popularity of marriage equality in California is much higher than many would think. Especially with younger voters. This makes me believe that it was just a matter of time anyways. Do you agree that most likely in twenty years gay marriage will be legal across the United States of America?

After I get a better chance to read through the logic of the ruling I will post my thoughts on the court case.

( If you know the story behind this picture from Rep. Gallegly's website I would like to know.)

I have heard there is an interesting story about The Ventura County Republican Central Committee's process in endorsing Rep. Elton Gallegly for re-election. Is there some problem with their bylaws because it is a contested primary?

If you know more about this please fill us in. I went to the endorsement page but there wasn't any listings. Click here to see Rep. Gallegly's current listings.

His website also details his positions on three issues: Taxes, Immigration, and Terrorism. See how many times you find the word Iraq on his issues page. Is he trying to avoid connection to the war?

( Rep. Elton Gallegly discussing his views on The Surge)

The VCRCC also has an online poll about the 2008 presidential election. Options include the war on terrorism/Iraq.

I recently wrote about Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) who is the ranking minority member on the Committee on Natural Resources with Rep. Gallegly. It looks like Don Young cannot get anyone to donate to his legal defense bills to attempt to protect him from the criminal investigations he is facing. I am calling upon Rep. Gallegly to stand up and denounce the Bridge to Nowhere and Young's other over the top antics. Even in heavily Republican Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young are behind in the polls because of their connections to illicit earmarking combined with their connections to a shady business. Elton, how can you stay silent on this issue? Be a leader and stop these people from dragging your party down. It is a matter of time before they are arrested or defeated for reelection. And if that doesn't happen they will instead continue to drag down your party. Why not help put an end to their abuse of power?

If more leaders from both parties stood up to their own members America would have more trust in their government.

Former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be coming to the area to campaign for Tony Strickland in June.

Click on continue reading for details.

Do you think Mitt Romney would be a strong choice to be a vice presidential candidate?

Although he wouldn't be my choice I think he would help McCain when it comes to economics. John McCain has admitted to not understanding economics enough in the past. With Romney, a former business leader, the edge Democrats have when people are asked about jobs, health care, and economics would be diminished.

For either candidate who do you think would increase their chances of winning?

I think Bill Richardson could be a decent choice for Barack Obama.

Maybe Senator Chuck Hagel or Mayor Michael Bloomberg? Both would prove in a stunning way how serious about practicing a new politics he really is committed to showing.

I have heard former Senator Sam Nunn mentioned and maybe Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Of course, Hillary Clinton is being talked about to form a unity ticket. Would that truly unite the party?

Sidenote: I went over some traffic numbers and they were amazing! Thanks for making this blog #1 in Ventura County politics. Your comments, criticisms, debates, and press releases really help to connect people together. Thanks to all my sources that help us understand our local political system better.

( Barack Obama on technology.)

Ventura City Council Member Bill Fulton writes a blog explaining the tough choices he makes at http://fulton4ventura.blogspot.com/ .
Check it out sometime. Bill, I am very impressed with your efforts to make local government more accessible to the public.

What local politician or group would you be most interested in reading a regularly updated blog from?

I think Rep. Gallegly's blog would prove insightful. I would like his views on many of the Republican Caucus members he has worked with.

I would also like to see a blog from a member of the Simi Valley Police Department about the regular day to day stuff that they have to deal with as they keep us safe.

The City of Simi Valley voted 4 to 1 ( Barbra Williamson casting the only vote against it) to spend $100,000 next year in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce on the Shop Simi Valley First campaign.

Read the article by clicking here.

And check out the Shop Simi Valley First website here.

Do you think this is a wise use of money?

Does a program like this show conservative principles?

Does your city have a program like this in place? Who pays for it?

Can government prove a program like this pays for itself?

Republican Candidate for State Senate,Tony Strickland, has updated his campaign's website.

You can hear his radio ad which seems to tout his support for Governor Schwarzenegger's Health care proposal and his Environmental policies.

If Tony is saying he is a Schwarzenegger Republican instead of a Norquist Republican that marks a welcome shift for him. I will look forward to him speaking about global warming and supporting the governor suing President Bush's administration over his EPA overruling our environmental laws.

How will Hannah Beth Jackson counter his latest green positions? Maybe supporting a local oil refinery in Santa Barbara?

If anyone wants to photoshop Al Gore ( An Inconvenient Truth), Michael Moore ( Sicko) and Tony Strickland ( Maybe in the middle of the other two?) all together send it in.

( David Hare, candidate for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican Assembly Member Audra Strickland. To see his website click here. His opponent is Ferial Masry. If you have pictures oft he Street Fair email them to me and I will post them.)

So, how did The Simi Valley Street Fair go? What candidates did you see? Who did you speak to and about what?

What city is holding the next event where candidates can meet the public in an informal setting? Independence day celebrations?

Ferial Masry appears to be using a flyer left over from a previous campaign. There is nothing wrong with that but in this case it is potentially misleading as some voters would assume the Ventura County Star editorial quote is about her primary election opponent, David Hare when it is actually about Assembly Member Audra Strickland.

I call on Ferial Masry's campaign to clear this up and apologize.

If this mailer isn't really being used currently I apologize to the Masry campaign who besides this incidence runs a very ethical campaign in my experience.

( Yet another Barack Obama song )

Readers:

A local Democratic activist and college student Heather Schmidt is doing a research project for a class. Please help her out by leaving comments and answering her questions. Here is her guest entry:

Dear Bloggers of Brian Dennert Here,

The 2008 elections have drastically shown our community that the Internet is having unprecedented effects on both political knowledge and political activism. This is definitely nothing new to the regular, and even part-time, bloggers on this and other blogs.

In researching the socio-cultural and ethical aspects to this new and fast-growing trend (Internet-politicking) for a paper I am writing on Internet and politics, I would like to include some stuff on blogging. Blogging has become one of the hugest forms of online political activism, and is a phenomena in and of itself.

I am interested to hear more about how and why the bloggers on Brian Dennert Here got interested in blogging, blogging on politics and where you see blogs making the greatest impact in political campaigns (e.g. news, fundraising, gossip, etc). I appreciate your comments to these particular topics, and any other that you may feel relevant to the topic.

Thank you again,

Heather Schmidt

I was alerted that Michael Tenenbaum, who is running in the Republican primary against Rep. Elton Gallegly, is also running for a position in the State bar Association.

This question is for my Rep. Gallegly supporters:

Would you support or vote for Michael Tenenbaum for this position if you could?

You will notice that his bio doesn't include his connections in the Federalist Society.

You can read his myspace profile here: Michael Tenenbaum.

As of this moment he has 131 friends to Rep. Elton Gallegly's 6 total.